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The Good Kill: A Killian Lebon Novel
A former Navy SEAL turned vigilante hitman already in the crosshairs of corrupt Russian agents finds himself in even deeper trouble after rescuing a sex trafficking victim against her will just as she is about to be delivered into the hands of an unscrupulous corporate mogul, an impetuous and dangerous man who will not be denied his purchase. . .
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
During the battle to liberate Mosul from the brutal grip of the Islamic State, Killian Lebon, a war-weary Navy SEAL Senior Chief, sustains life-threatening injuries from an explosion during a rescue operation that goes horribly wrong.
Forced into early retirement from a vocation that for almost twenty years had been his sole purpose for being – that of a fearless warrior in defense of his country – Killian’s life quickly spirals downward to the deepest depths of hopelessness and despair due to the traumatic after-effects of his injuries and the overwhelming guilt he feels from the tragic consequences of his failed final mission.
Left without the will to continue on within such a dark and indifferent world, Killian attempts what he expects will be his last and ultimate mission. But RJ, a woman he had loved once long ago, saves him from his void of despair and, in her effort to console him, reveals two long-held, painful secrets, secrets that inspire within him a dark new purpose for living.
However, it isn’t long before this new lethal life mission of his places him and those he cares for straight within the deadly crosshairs of corrupt Russian agents and unscrupulous corporate moguls and forces him on a desperate and harrowing journey of rescue and revenge, one that takes him from the lush rolling hills of his Southern Pennsylvania farm, down to the mean streets of Baltimore and the steamy bayous of New Orleans, and then back once again to the windswept desert of Iraq where all his troubles first began… and where his most anticipated act of vigilante justice is destined to be executed.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
THE GOOD KILL Storyline Checklist
Battle weary Navy SEAL ✓
Fearless, kickass women ✓
Corrupt corporate moguls ✓
Conniving Russian agents ✓
Ruthless ISIS terrorists ✓
Cold-hearted pimps ✓
Low-life sex traffickers ✓
Evil henchmen ✓
Traitorous scum ✓
Dark Web hackers ✓
Cool cars ✓
Luxurious yachts ✓
High-speed chases ✓
Heartless violence ✓
Brutal redemption ✓
Love ✓
Romance ✓
Kittens __
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
During the battle to liberate Mosul from the brutal grip of the Islamic State, Killian Lebon, a war-weary Navy SEAL Senior Chief, sustains life-threatening injuries from an explosion during a rescue operation that goes horribly wrong.
Forced into early retirement from a vocation that for almost twenty years had been his sole purpose for being – that of a fearless warrior in defense of his country – Killian’s life quickly spirals downward to the deepest depths of hopelessness and despair due to the traumatic after-effects of his injuries and the overwhelming guilt he feels from the tragic consequences of his failed final mission.
Left without the will to continue on within such a dark and indifferent world, Killian attempts what he expects will be his last and ultimate mission. But RJ, a woman he had loved once long ago, saves him from his void of despair and, in her effort to console him, reveals two long-held, painful secrets, secrets that inspire within him a dark new purpose for living.
However, it isn’t long before this new lethal life mission of his places him and those he cares for straight within the deadly crosshairs of corrupt Russian agents and unscrupulous corporate moguls and forces him on a desperate and harrowing journey of rescue and revenge, one that takes him from the lush rolling hills of his Southern Pennsylvania farm, down to the mean streets of Baltimore and the steamy bayous of New Orleans, and then back once again to the windswept desert of Iraq where all his troubles first began… and where his most anticipated act of vigilante justice is destined to be executed.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
THE GOOD KILL Storyline Checklist
Battle weary Navy SEAL ✓
Fearless, kickass women ✓
Corrupt corporate moguls ✓
Conniving Russian agents ✓
Ruthless ISIS terrorists ✓
Cold-hearted pimps ✓
Low-life sex traffickers ✓
Evil henchmen ✓
Traitorous scum ✓
Dark Web hackers ✓
Cool cars ✓
Luxurious yachts ✓
High-speed chases ✓
Heartless violence ✓
Brutal redemption ✓
Love ✓
Romance ✓
Kittens __
- GenresThriller
395 pages, Paperback
Published May 1, 2019
52 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Kurt Brindley
10 books38 followersA husband and father of three adult children and two monster Plott Hounds, Kurt Brindley is a retired sailor who lives in Southern Pennsylvania in a house on top of a windy and rolling hill. He traveled much of the world while serving in the navy and, aye, he’s got some stories to tell…
Whiles serving in the navy, Kurt earned an undergraduate degree in English from the University of Maryland and a graduate degree in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma.
In 1998, he took a hiatus from his regular navy duties as a navy telecommunications specialist to attend the U. S. military’s Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute. The institute is little known to most but is internationally renowned to those in the human relations field.
Upon graduation, Kurt was certified as a Navy Equal Opportunity Adviser and assigned the responsibilities of providing diversity management training and equal opportunity consultation and assistance to navy personnel throughout the navy’s Western Pacific area of operations.
Much of this work focused on awareness and outreach seminars in an effort to mitigate the harassment and abuse that resulted from the confusion and resentment surrounding the military’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy.
His assignment as an EOA was one of the most challenging, and rewarding, assignments of his navy career, and it served as the impetus behind much of his early writing, including his novel INSIDE THE SKIN and his short story “Leave.”
The author of three novels, one short story collection, two books of poetry, and one little book of inspiration, Kurt, in pursuit of new literary challenges, adapted his short story Leave into a screenplay in the summer of 2015. In October 2016, Leave was filmed and produced in Los Angeles with an amazing cast and crew. It premiered at the LA Femme Film Festival in October 2018.
Kurt is not a fan of the soul-sapping effort writing takes, but he does rather enjoy blogging, or, as he prefers to refer to it as, "surmising with aplomb and nary remorse." While doing so, he likes to wax poetic, overshare poorly lit photographs of his rather large and wily yet devout and loveable Plott Hounds Aurelius and Zeno, and every now and again, if he can muster up the courage, venture naively into commentary on all our pretty yet petulant planet’s perplexing problems, political and/or otherwise.
When not telling stories, reading, or being managed by Zeno & Aurelius, he often wanders down to the bottom of his hill to walk along the countryside’s many rushing creeks and silent still ponds.
He likes it there down by the water…
Whiles serving in the navy, Kurt earned an undergraduate degree in English from the University of Maryland and a graduate degree in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma.
In 1998, he took a hiatus from his regular navy duties as a navy telecommunications specialist to attend the U. S. military’s Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute. The institute is little known to most but is internationally renowned to those in the human relations field.
Upon graduation, Kurt was certified as a Navy Equal Opportunity Adviser and assigned the responsibilities of providing diversity management training and equal opportunity consultation and assistance to navy personnel throughout the navy’s Western Pacific area of operations.
Much of this work focused on awareness and outreach seminars in an effort to mitigate the harassment and abuse that resulted from the confusion and resentment surrounding the military’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy.
His assignment as an EOA was one of the most challenging, and rewarding, assignments of his navy career, and it served as the impetus behind much of his early writing, including his novel INSIDE THE SKIN and his short story “Leave.”
The author of three novels, one short story collection, two books of poetry, and one little book of inspiration, Kurt, in pursuit of new literary challenges, adapted his short story Leave into a screenplay in the summer of 2015. In October 2016, Leave was filmed and produced in Los Angeles with an amazing cast and crew. It premiered at the LA Femme Film Festival in October 2018.
Kurt is not a fan of the soul-sapping effort writing takes, but he does rather enjoy blogging, or, as he prefers to refer to it as, "surmising with aplomb and nary remorse." While doing so, he likes to wax poetic, overshare poorly lit photographs of his rather large and wily yet devout and loveable Plott Hounds Aurelius and Zeno, and every now and again, if he can muster up the courage, venture naively into commentary on all our pretty yet petulant planet’s perplexing problems, political and/or otherwise.
When not telling stories, reading, or being managed by Zeno & Aurelius, he often wanders down to the bottom of his hill to walk along the countryside’s many rushing creeks and silent still ponds.
He likes it there down by the water…
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January 26, 2026Killian Lebon, a former Navy SEAL, is not doing well.
"His panicked eyes followed the movement of something unseen..."
Despite his willingness to continue, he was forcibly retired due to a horrendous injury following a mission. A mission whose ending still torments him to this day.
However, he cannot leave his past behind. He cannot shake the faces of the scared, the lonely and the hopeless that he left behind.
And just when life seems bleakest...he finds a new mission.
There are far too many people allowed to run unchecked and unhindered.
"With his voice sounding muffled and distant from beneath the pillow, he shouted..."
If no one is willing to dirty their hands...well...let's just say the Killian will.
However, what first seemed to be a simple plan is rapidly becoming more complicated. People he loves are in danger and Killian will have to make a decision - one that could haunt him for the rest of his life.
Whew. What a wild ride.
This book had a lot of good elements - the plot was certainly unique and creative. I couldn't tell where it was going - it was a fun ride.
Killian was a strong character - his morals and principles really carried the book. Plus, I enjoyed RJ's frankness and Toni's heart.
The three of them really tied the book together and made it memorable.
However, the book felt over-saturated with detail. For example - this
Yes, knowing his exact height and weight and color of every article of clothing are important details for the author...but they aren't necessary to the audience.
"When the killer stepped out from the shadows and allowed the mark to see for the first time the full scope of his six-feet, five-inch, 245-pound muscle-hardened frame dressed head to foot all in black - black combat pants and shirt, black combat boots, black assault gloves, and a black balaclava - the mark froze in fright at what looked to him like an oversized ninja warrior from hell."
It could've simply been: "The killer stepped out, a hulking brute of a man clad in black. The mark froze." and the same thing would've been said, only 4x shorter.
I don't mind having oodles of detail here and there - there a definitely books where I LOVE having all the little things included...but there's a time and a place for that level of emphasis.
I think a firmer hand with editing would have tightened the book up beautifully and truly allow its full potential to show - for the plot truly was good and gripping, just a bit bogged down.
And finally, hats off for this:
I don't know why it got me so good - but I was laughing my head off at "the man-bun man". It was so unexpected and tickled the funny bone.
"Yeah, that's so typical of you ignorant alt-right fucks," the man-bun man said...
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
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July 23, 2019
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Kurt Brindley’s novel The Good Kill: A Killian Lebron Novel first introduces a character called the killer. The killer invades the house of a Mexican cartel boss in Ohio, tapes the naked bad guy to a chair in his basement, and with some extremely cruel torture with a machete, he forces the Mexican to confess his sins of sex and drug trafficking as he videos it. The video goes viral to sex and violence addicts, and to drug and sex traffickers who frequent the dark web.
The novel moves back in time with Killian Lebron — although not yet using his name — awaking from a six week induced coma in a Walter Reed veteran hospital wing in D. C., and it is made clear that the Navy Seal’s life will never return to normal after surviving a blast in Mosul, Iraq where he was injured while trying to rescue kidnapped teenage girls who ISIS turned into sex slaves.
The novel then introduces a myriad of bad guys who are involved in sex trafficking, and introduces Toni Steele, who is kidnapped while looking for her twin sister who used the stage name, Ruby Black, in the strip club that she disappeared from. The sex trafficking underworld is portrayed in graphic detail as tastefully as I can imagine.
When Killian is released from the hospital, RJ Gunther, who has loved him since their preteen years, is introduced. RJ is the only truly wholesome character in the whole novel. Her love for Killian never worked out when they were young for reasons that I won’t disclose here. When she is kidnapped by the bad guys, the story revolves around trying to find and rescue her.
I generally shy away from reading novels about dark subjects, and nothing is darker than sex trafficking. Despite that proclivity of mine, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I found the first part of the novel a bit confusing as it jumped around to introduce all the major characters that play important roles later. When I read the first seven chapters a second time, they made perfect sense.
I like the author’s voice and writing style. I would love to read a novel of his that is not so dark. That prejudice of mine should be taken into account when considering the three star rating that I give to this novel.
Kurt Brindley’s novel The Good Kill: A Killian Lebron Novel first introduces a character called the killer. The killer invades the house of a Mexican cartel boss in Ohio, tapes the naked bad guy to a chair in his basement, and with some extremely cruel torture with a machete, he forces the Mexican to confess his sins of sex and drug trafficking as he videos it. The video goes viral to sex and violence addicts, and to drug and sex traffickers who frequent the dark web.
The novel moves back in time with Killian Lebron — although not yet using his name — awaking from a six week induced coma in a Walter Reed veteran hospital wing in D. C., and it is made clear that the Navy Seal’s life will never return to normal after surviving a blast in Mosul, Iraq where he was injured while trying to rescue kidnapped teenage girls who ISIS turned into sex slaves.
The novel then introduces a myriad of bad guys who are involved in sex trafficking, and introduces Toni Steele, who is kidnapped while looking for her twin sister who used the stage name, Ruby Black, in the strip club that she disappeared from. The sex trafficking underworld is portrayed in graphic detail as tastefully as I can imagine.
When Killian is released from the hospital, RJ Gunther, who has loved him since their preteen years, is introduced. RJ is the only truly wholesome character in the whole novel. Her love for Killian never worked out when they were young for reasons that I won’t disclose here. When she is kidnapped by the bad guys, the story revolves around trying to find and rescue her.
I generally shy away from reading novels about dark subjects, and nothing is darker than sex trafficking. Despite that proclivity of mine, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I found the first part of the novel a bit confusing as it jumped around to introduce all the major characters that play important roles later. When I read the first seven chapters a second time, they made perfect sense.
I like the author’s voice and writing style. I would love to read a novel of his that is not so dark. That prejudice of mine should be taken into account when considering the three star rating that I give to this novel.
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November 6, 2019
This is a very dark, gritty well written novel, the author has handled the subject matter in a brilliant way, the characters are all three dimensional and so life like.
Killian Lebron had been a Navy SEAL for 20 years until one mission got him severely injured, his career as a SEAL is over, but like a lot of servicemen, that have been doing this for such a long time it is so difficult for them to adapt to home life, all Killian has known for all those years is to fight in a war and to live a regimented life. He is in a state of anomie, where he doesn’t belong at home having been away for so long, but he no longer belongs with the SEALs.
The opening scenes of the book involves the execution of men who have been involved in the business of sex trafficking. Lebron is the vigilante doing what he believes should be done to these people for the heinous crimes they have committed. He films them reading statements, admitting to their crimes, and involvement in the sex trafficking business, he then kills them. These films go viral, with everyone wanting to know who this assassin is cleaning up the filth off the streets.
The story gives flashbacks giving the reader more information about Killian’s tragic past, the death of his mother, the Catholic Priest who became a father figure to Killian, because his real father had got involved in more and more things. You learn of the incident in Afghanistan, that has made Killian the way he is. Also how R.J fit in his life in the early days.
Killian wants to continue to do what he does best, but his injuries have put paid to that. He is haunted by his last mission. He feels he let the young women and girls down. He also knows they have probably been sold on as sex workers by ISIS.
Killian has PTSD, and as has happened in a great number of cases in real life, he was given no support, he has lost all faith in the system, that has let him down. The fact he turns to vigilantism, to him he sees this as morally right, he sees it that he is ridding the world of evil, if he doesn’t then these people will continue to exploit others, for their own gains. Killian wants to stop them. He makes a decision to do what no one else is willing to do, he isn’t afraid to dirty his hands. But at what cost? How far is he willing to go? When people he loves are put in danger, what decision will Killian make? If he makes the wrong choice can he live with himself?
There a lot on unlikeable characters in this book, one group of people being sex traffickers, as well as drug pushers, at times some of the things are tough to read, but the author deals with the subject matter as delicately as possible to portray the evil doers.
R.J.Gunther has loved Killian since they were young, their relationship didn’t work out years earlier, I won’t say what happened as it will spoil part of the story.. she is kidnapped by the bad guys and now Killian has to find her and rescue her if he can.
The characters in this are so well written, the good, the bad, and the ugly, and despite the very dark subjects, sex trafficking, there is a lot of violence but that’s not there just for the sake of it, it’s done as it’s necessary to the parts of the story. It’s not done for shock value.
This is a really great read, although not for every taste obviously, with the subject matter involved, it is a very dark and gritty novel. But these things happen for real.. The sex trafficking of young girls/women. Not an easy subject to cover but I think praise to the author here for the way it is handled. Great drawn out characters both the good and the bad.
Thank you to #Netgalley and #BooksgoSocial and #Kurtbrindley for an e ARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.
Killian Lebron had been a Navy SEAL for 20 years until one mission got him severely injured, his career as a SEAL is over, but like a lot of servicemen, that have been doing this for such a long time it is so difficult for them to adapt to home life, all Killian has known for all those years is to fight in a war and to live a regimented life. He is in a state of anomie, where he doesn’t belong at home having been away for so long, but he no longer belongs with the SEALs.
The opening scenes of the book involves the execution of men who have been involved in the business of sex trafficking. Lebron is the vigilante doing what he believes should be done to these people for the heinous crimes they have committed. He films them reading statements, admitting to their crimes, and involvement in the sex trafficking business, he then kills them. These films go viral, with everyone wanting to know who this assassin is cleaning up the filth off the streets.
The story gives flashbacks giving the reader more information about Killian’s tragic past, the death of his mother, the Catholic Priest who became a father figure to Killian, because his real father had got involved in more and more things. You learn of the incident in Afghanistan, that has made Killian the way he is. Also how R.J fit in his life in the early days.
Killian wants to continue to do what he does best, but his injuries have put paid to that. He is haunted by his last mission. He feels he let the young women and girls down. He also knows they have probably been sold on as sex workers by ISIS.
Killian has PTSD, and as has happened in a great number of cases in real life, he was given no support, he has lost all faith in the system, that has let him down. The fact he turns to vigilantism, to him he sees this as morally right, he sees it that he is ridding the world of evil, if he doesn’t then these people will continue to exploit others, for their own gains. Killian wants to stop them. He makes a decision to do what no one else is willing to do, he isn’t afraid to dirty his hands. But at what cost? How far is he willing to go? When people he loves are put in danger, what decision will Killian make? If he makes the wrong choice can he live with himself?
There a lot on unlikeable characters in this book, one group of people being sex traffickers, as well as drug pushers, at times some of the things are tough to read, but the author deals with the subject matter as delicately as possible to portray the evil doers.
R.J.Gunther has loved Killian since they were young, their relationship didn’t work out years earlier, I won’t say what happened as it will spoil part of the story.. she is kidnapped by the bad guys and now Killian has to find her and rescue her if he can.
The characters in this are so well written, the good, the bad, and the ugly, and despite the very dark subjects, sex trafficking, there is a lot of violence but that’s not there just for the sake of it, it’s done as it’s necessary to the parts of the story. It’s not done for shock value.
This is a really great read, although not for every taste obviously, with the subject matter involved, it is a very dark and gritty novel. But these things happen for real.. The sex trafficking of young girls/women. Not an easy subject to cover but I think praise to the author here for the way it is handled. Great drawn out characters both the good and the bad.
Thank you to #Netgalley and #BooksgoSocial and #Kurtbrindley for an e ARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.
June 10, 2019
Apocalypse Now...Jacob's Ladder...Scarface...The God Father... I'm tossing out movies that were so so hard for me to watch, but were done so so well that they of course, stick with me visually and emotionally. I'm doing that because The Good Kill hits me in the gut the same way those classic movies did.
Because of the subject matter - modern day combat vet turned urban vigilante - there's going to be violence. Kurt drops the violence in with a skilled hand; it's not done for shock value (as is the case with so many horror movies these days) nor is it written in such graphic detail that I feared being sick to my stomach.
And like those classic movies I mentioned at the start, the story itself has weight / substance. Each character is written well and given enough room in the pages to be three dimensional; I could see them existing in real life, sadly enough in some cases. Whew.
In case you're wondering, I keep bringing up movies because I've got quite the strong imagination and when an author writes descriptions well, the book comes to life in my head to the point where I can SEE the scenes. Kurt is able to give the settings just enough detail to lift them from the page and project them in my minds eye. Again, like the violence, there's just enough detail to paint a realistic image so I'm immersed in the action as it unfolds.
My one and only sticking point - there's a character who in one scene is given heroine (against her wishes I might add) for the first time in her life. A few pages later, she's an addict begging her captors for another hit. I've been asking if that could really happen ever since I read it, lol. I mean, for real? If you've never wanted or been drawn to getting / feeling high, then how, especially when it was done under life threatening situations, do you end up in just a short time, willing to do who knows what for a hit? (And OMG, I hope to never find out personally).
Anyway, definitely recommend this one for those of you who enjoy the grittiest of thrillers. It's well written, well paced, and provides a satisfying end to a wild ride.
Because of the subject matter - modern day combat vet turned urban vigilante - there's going to be violence. Kurt drops the violence in with a skilled hand; it's not done for shock value (as is the case with so many horror movies these days) nor is it written in such graphic detail that I feared being sick to my stomach.
And like those classic movies I mentioned at the start, the story itself has weight / substance. Each character is written well and given enough room in the pages to be three dimensional; I could see them existing in real life, sadly enough in some cases. Whew.
In case you're wondering, I keep bringing up movies because I've got quite the strong imagination and when an author writes descriptions well, the book comes to life in my head to the point where I can SEE the scenes. Kurt is able to give the settings just enough detail to lift them from the page and project them in my minds eye. Again, like the violence, there's just enough detail to paint a realistic image so I'm immersed in the action as it unfolds.
My one and only sticking point - there's a character who in one scene is given heroine (against her wishes I might add) for the first time in her life. A few pages later, she's an addict begging her captors for another hit. I've been asking if that could really happen ever since I read it, lol. I mean, for real? If you've never wanted or been drawn to getting / feeling high, then how, especially when it was done under life threatening situations, do you end up in just a short time, willing to do who knows what for a hit? (And OMG, I hope to never find out personally).
Anyway, definitely recommend this one for those of you who enjoy the grittiest of thrillers. It's well written, well paced, and provides a satisfying end to a wild ride.
September 14, 2019
What is a ‘good kill’? What is so poignant to this story is making sure that you DO NOT (I repeat: DO NOT) make a clear distinction between wrong and right. Ever since I can remember I have always believed in the shades of grey that exist within, as well as outside the realm of good and evil, and in order to understand our hero, or ‘anti-hero’ we must accept that these particular characters exist. In Kurt Brindley’s novel our protagonist and our ‘anti-hero’ is Killian Lebon, a former Navy Seal whose experiences in Iraq have left him both severally injured physically and psychologically traumatized. Medically retired from the Navy Killian must now attempt to exist within society among civilians who are not always privy to his former way of life. It is also worth noting that before Killian was severely wounded an incident involving the deaths of several young girls in Mosul that were being bought and sold as unwilling sex workers comprises a large part of his haunted past, and his very violent present.
The opening scenes place the reader in the position of witness to the execution of several men who have been involved in the sex trafficking industry, and our anti-hero has taken it upon himself to be a vigilante for all the victims of such heinous crimes. Lebon films the perpetrators reading out statements admitting their involvement in the crimes, and executes said ‘perps’ on camera. These videos have gone viral and no one is any the wiser as to the identity of this ‘Robin Hoodesque’ assassin.
In the meantime a woman called Toni Steele is searching for her twin sister, Whitney, whom she believes has been forced unwillingly into the sex industry. Whitney, who now calls herself Ruby Black, is by no means an ‘unwilling’ victim, but this has not stopped her twin sister from going to extreme lengths to ‘rescue’ Whitney/Ruby. Ruby has been sold by a notorious club owner and all-round gangster Jerome Savage, to the son of a corporate billionaire, and because Toni is so intent on finding her sister she completely immerses herself in this dark and dangerous world that includes drugs, prostitution and a plethora of shady business deals.
On one of Killian’s ‘missions’ to rid the world of another gruesome individual, whom just so happens to be Jerome Savage, he is unwittingly drawn into Toni’s life when he finds her at Savage’s house. He brings her back to his family home where his childhood friend R.J who has a tragic past of her own joins Killian and Toni in their mission to rescue Whitney.
Throughout the novel flashbacks allow the reader to learn about Killian’s tragic past that include the death of his mother, his relationship with the Catholic priest who became a father figure to Killian as his own father became more and more distant and involved in the cyber security industry and Russian politics. We also learn more about the incident in Afghanistan that led to Killian’s state of mind, and how his childhood that included his relationship ‘with tough-cookie’ R.J made an impression on the man he is now.
It is very important to note that not only are the characters influenced by post 9/11 (as not only Americans but the whole world are), but a post-Trump America is a category all on its own. As with all examples of popular culture that deal with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) there are an infinite number of ways in which the human being copes with the aftermath of trauma or change of any kind. Killian Lebon is the perfect example of an individual who has little or no faith in a system that claims to be just, and finding this system lacking, has taken it upon themselves to exact their own form of judgement. Without going into too much detail on the literary devices used, I personally found The Good Kill to be a brilliant case in point of the moral and ethical dilemma that arises when the human instinct to protect oneself is kept in check. Killian is the anti-hero archetype whose manifestation came about through a series of tragedies and his decision to rid the the world of bad people, who would otherwise continue to do terrible things without any negative consequences to themselves, brings the reader back to my initial question… What is a ‘good’ kill? Whilst Killian and the reader attempt to answer this very question, the array of secondary and main characters grapple with the divide between politics, religion and the general state of the world in their very necessary observations.
In conclusion this is a novel that took me completely by surprise in the best way possible. Brindley has an impeccable grasp of the English language, as well as an extraordinary gift for writing a damn fine tale of intrigue, epic action, a little mystery, one hell of a conspiracy, and what I really hope is a fantastic introduction to a character that I adore for so many reasons, whom I hope to meet again, and whose place in literature is sorely needed at present.
The opening scenes place the reader in the position of witness to the execution of several men who have been involved in the sex trafficking industry, and our anti-hero has taken it upon himself to be a vigilante for all the victims of such heinous crimes. Lebon films the perpetrators reading out statements admitting their involvement in the crimes, and executes said ‘perps’ on camera. These videos have gone viral and no one is any the wiser as to the identity of this ‘Robin Hoodesque’ assassin.
In the meantime a woman called Toni Steele is searching for her twin sister, Whitney, whom she believes has been forced unwillingly into the sex industry. Whitney, who now calls herself Ruby Black, is by no means an ‘unwilling’ victim, but this has not stopped her twin sister from going to extreme lengths to ‘rescue’ Whitney/Ruby. Ruby has been sold by a notorious club owner and all-round gangster Jerome Savage, to the son of a corporate billionaire, and because Toni is so intent on finding her sister she completely immerses herself in this dark and dangerous world that includes drugs, prostitution and a plethora of shady business deals.
On one of Killian’s ‘missions’ to rid the world of another gruesome individual, whom just so happens to be Jerome Savage, he is unwittingly drawn into Toni’s life when he finds her at Savage’s house. He brings her back to his family home where his childhood friend R.J who has a tragic past of her own joins Killian and Toni in their mission to rescue Whitney.
Throughout the novel flashbacks allow the reader to learn about Killian’s tragic past that include the death of his mother, his relationship with the Catholic priest who became a father figure to Killian as his own father became more and more distant and involved in the cyber security industry and Russian politics. We also learn more about the incident in Afghanistan that led to Killian’s state of mind, and how his childhood that included his relationship ‘with tough-cookie’ R.J made an impression on the man he is now.
It is very important to note that not only are the characters influenced by post 9/11 (as not only Americans but the whole world are), but a post-Trump America is a category all on its own. As with all examples of popular culture that deal with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) there are an infinite number of ways in which the human being copes with the aftermath of trauma or change of any kind. Killian Lebon is the perfect example of an individual who has little or no faith in a system that claims to be just, and finding this system lacking, has taken it upon themselves to exact their own form of judgement. Without going into too much detail on the literary devices used, I personally found The Good Kill to be a brilliant case in point of the moral and ethical dilemma that arises when the human instinct to protect oneself is kept in check. Killian is the anti-hero archetype whose manifestation came about through a series of tragedies and his decision to rid the the world of bad people, who would otherwise continue to do terrible things without any negative consequences to themselves, brings the reader back to my initial question… What is a ‘good’ kill? Whilst Killian and the reader attempt to answer this very question, the array of secondary and main characters grapple with the divide between politics, religion and the general state of the world in their very necessary observations.
In conclusion this is a novel that took me completely by surprise in the best way possible. Brindley has an impeccable grasp of the English language, as well as an extraordinary gift for writing a damn fine tale of intrigue, epic action, a little mystery, one hell of a conspiracy, and what I really hope is a fantastic introduction to a character that I adore for so many reasons, whom I hope to meet again, and whose place in literature is sorely needed at present.
September 15, 2019
Short review: This book is 100% worth the read but takes some courage and a lot of time to get through.
Today there’s an undertone of social injustices plaguing our world with a threatening yet taboo sense of doom that seems unspeakable by most. Dicussions on suicide, PTSD and human trafficking have either seemed hushed or handled contraversially...that is, until Kurt Brindley came along. His novel, The Good Kill is an emblem of progress for all those who dare rise against the enslaving silence in our society in hopes of sparking change. Brindley harnesses these frightening topics by the reigns and skillfully tames them into a narrative where readers can discuss, comprehend and conquer these social demons. Equally riveting as it is revealing, The Good Kill exposes the love and logic behind hateful underground crimes that we witness today; it is a story about innocent youth, broken military vigilantes and even senile pastors learning how to fight for the family, friendships, “God and Country” that they believe in.
To list the pros of this book would take pages: well-developed humour, characters, vocabulary and points of view were amongst my favourite parts. As archaic as his P.O.V was, Happy’s incessant blabber juxtaposed against his silent counterpart, Mcknight, made for hilarious and eye-opening comic relief amidst the novel’s heavy nature. Another high point was the incredible imagery: from the first page, you could tell from the fine-tuned metaphors and vividly painted scenes that Kurt is a natural born poet and has many poetry novels to prove it. I aspire to one day write as impressively as Brindley however I also aspire to do it in fewer words.
The overkill in The Good Kill might be its one downfall as several sentences take up so many lines that they might as well be paragraphs...hard-to-follow ones for that matter. Various typos were appearing because too much energy was being devoted to unnecessary “fluff” scenes rather than editing the core content. But readers realize why once they reach the final stretch of the novel; the author spent so long elaborating because other authors pale in light of his strategic foreshadowing and symbolism skills.
It turns out that many of the seemingly unrelated moments were setting up a series of plot twists no one could have ever seen coming. That shouldn’t surprise anybody considering that, from chapter two onwards, we see Brindley use advanced writing techniques to simultaneously advance the multiple subplots; he's clearly in a habit of writing one scene with "easter eggs" in preparation for plot twists up ahead. There is also foreshadowing in the dream chapters filled with unbeatable obstacles alluding to Killian’s future act of not only conquering gangsters but also inner demons. So after all this strategizing and symbolism in dreams, readers should expect that, in the end, Brindley will expertly weave every character into an enthralling tale of justice, romance and action.
The Good Kill offers it all: plot twists, cathartic relief and 80 chapters of strategic narrative around sensitive issues that our society needs to do a better job discussing. I have no reservations that it’s worth reading...but I do have one about this quote from the novel’s corresponding bookmark. It says: “A good novel tells us the truth about its hero but a bad novel tells us the story of its author.” Frankly, I disagree. The Good Kill is a great book telling the story of heroic Killian AND of a heroic author brave enough to spark change in the social silence surrounding traumas currently facing mankind. For that, I say kudos to Kurt Brindley and may the best successes come to his ensuing Killian Lebon novels.
Today there’s an undertone of social injustices plaguing our world with a threatening yet taboo sense of doom that seems unspeakable by most. Dicussions on suicide, PTSD and human trafficking have either seemed hushed or handled contraversially...that is, until Kurt Brindley came along. His novel, The Good Kill is an emblem of progress for all those who dare rise against the enslaving silence in our society in hopes of sparking change. Brindley harnesses these frightening topics by the reigns and skillfully tames them into a narrative where readers can discuss, comprehend and conquer these social demons. Equally riveting as it is revealing, The Good Kill exposes the love and logic behind hateful underground crimes that we witness today; it is a story about innocent youth, broken military vigilantes and even senile pastors learning how to fight for the family, friendships, “God and Country” that they believe in.
To list the pros of this book would take pages: well-developed humour, characters, vocabulary and points of view were amongst my favourite parts. As archaic as his P.O.V was, Happy’s incessant blabber juxtaposed against his silent counterpart, Mcknight, made for hilarious and eye-opening comic relief amidst the novel’s heavy nature. Another high point was the incredible imagery: from the first page, you could tell from the fine-tuned metaphors and vividly painted scenes that Kurt is a natural born poet and has many poetry novels to prove it. I aspire to one day write as impressively as Brindley however I also aspire to do it in fewer words.
The overkill in The Good Kill might be its one downfall as several sentences take up so many lines that they might as well be paragraphs...hard-to-follow ones for that matter. Various typos were appearing because too much energy was being devoted to unnecessary “fluff” scenes rather than editing the core content. But readers realize why once they reach the final stretch of the novel; the author spent so long elaborating because other authors pale in light of his strategic foreshadowing and symbolism skills.
It turns out that many of the seemingly unrelated moments were setting up a series of plot twists no one could have ever seen coming. That shouldn’t surprise anybody considering that, from chapter two onwards, we see Brindley use advanced writing techniques to simultaneously advance the multiple subplots; he's clearly in a habit of writing one scene with "easter eggs" in preparation for plot twists up ahead. There is also foreshadowing in the dream chapters filled with unbeatable obstacles alluding to Killian’s future act of not only conquering gangsters but also inner demons. So after all this strategizing and symbolism in dreams, readers should expect that, in the end, Brindley will expertly weave every character into an enthralling tale of justice, romance and action.
The Good Kill offers it all: plot twists, cathartic relief and 80 chapters of strategic narrative around sensitive issues that our society needs to do a better job discussing. I have no reservations that it’s worth reading...but I do have one about this quote from the novel’s corresponding bookmark. It says: “A good novel tells us the truth about its hero but a bad novel tells us the story of its author.” Frankly, I disagree. The Good Kill is a great book telling the story of heroic Killian AND of a heroic author brave enough to spark change in the social silence surrounding traumas currently facing mankind. For that, I say kudos to Kurt Brindley and may the best successes come to his ensuing Killian Lebon novels.
November 16, 2019
The Good Kill by Kurt Brindley
A Killian Lebon Novel #1
Do the ends justify the means? Is killing every the right thing to do? Who deserves death? Should death be simple? Is torture ever okay? And, is a person who takes justice into his or her own hands with the intent of killing someone evil ever in the right? Just a few of the questions I asked myself as I read this book.
The book begins with the brutal execution of a man who had no remorse and was as evil as they come. The “Killer” was a man who used his skill-set to to remove evil sex traffickers from the earth...and he really does an excellent job of it. Some of the scenes are graphic and violent and some might not be willing to read such but within the context of this story it does make sense.
Killian Lebon is a man who has served his country for two decades and when he is injured on a mission and can no longer serve he finds a way to feel useful and serve the world though some might question the way he moves forward with his life. His story is told in flashbacks (a few of them) that mention his service, his last mission and why he does what he does.
This book has many characters in the beginning and flipped back and forth between past and present as well as between threads of the story. The threads are eventually brought together and tied up in the end but it took me a bit of time to see what all of the threads had to do with one another.
In addition to the vigilante justice aspect of the book there are women to save, Russians to thwart and the beginning of a potential romance that may or may not bloom into something more if/when the series continues. I am hoping Killian will eventually find peace and a safe place to land.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes
What might I recommend? Perhaps some editing to reduce the page count to make the story a bit tighter/move more quickly.
Thank you to NetGalley and Books Go Social for the ARC – This is my honest review
4 Stars
A Killian Lebon Novel #1
Do the ends justify the means? Is killing every the right thing to do? Who deserves death? Should death be simple? Is torture ever okay? And, is a person who takes justice into his or her own hands with the intent of killing someone evil ever in the right? Just a few of the questions I asked myself as I read this book.
The book begins with the brutal execution of a man who had no remorse and was as evil as they come. The “Killer” was a man who used his skill-set to to remove evil sex traffickers from the earth...and he really does an excellent job of it. Some of the scenes are graphic and violent and some might not be willing to read such but within the context of this story it does make sense.
Killian Lebon is a man who has served his country for two decades and when he is injured on a mission and can no longer serve he finds a way to feel useful and serve the world though some might question the way he moves forward with his life. His story is told in flashbacks (a few of them) that mention his service, his last mission and why he does what he does.
This book has many characters in the beginning and flipped back and forth between past and present as well as between threads of the story. The threads are eventually brought together and tied up in the end but it took me a bit of time to see what all of the threads had to do with one another.
In addition to the vigilante justice aspect of the book there are women to save, Russians to thwart and the beginning of a potential romance that may or may not bloom into something more if/when the series continues. I am hoping Killian will eventually find peace and a safe place to land.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes
What might I recommend? Perhaps some editing to reduce the page count to make the story a bit tighter/move more quickly.
Thank you to NetGalley and Books Go Social for the ARC – This is my honest review
4 Stars
August 23, 2019
An incredible graphic thriller
The Good Kill will grab you on page one and not let go!
Killian Labon is a hero and a cold-blooded killer. He’s tough as nails but carries a deeply hidden kernel of love in his heart. After devastating physical & mental injuries during the war, he finds his calling in retaliating against the scum of society. Those who perpetrate heinous crimes against women & children are his targets.
Killian takes them all on. Pimps, drug dealers, human traffickers, dirty Russian agents, corporate tycoons, are all fair game to him.
The novel is not for the squeamish. You can’t tell this type of story without violence and blood. However, the action is so intense you simply must keep reading. Mr. Brindley excels at diving deep into the psyche of each character, setting up plot lines that intricately weave a cohesive story.
Fans of Navy Seals, vigilante justice, and hard-core action will fall in love with Killian Lebon. I foresee any more stories in this series.
The Good Kill will grab you on page one and not let go!
Killian Labon is a hero and a cold-blooded killer. He’s tough as nails but carries a deeply hidden kernel of love in his heart. After devastating physical & mental injuries during the war, he finds his calling in retaliating against the scum of society. Those who perpetrate heinous crimes against women & children are his targets.
Killian takes them all on. Pimps, drug dealers, human traffickers, dirty Russian agents, corporate tycoons, are all fair game to him.
The novel is not for the squeamish. You can’t tell this type of story without violence and blood. However, the action is so intense you simply must keep reading. Mr. Brindley excels at diving deep into the psyche of each character, setting up plot lines that intricately weave a cohesive story.
Fans of Navy Seals, vigilante justice, and hard-core action will fall in love with Killian Lebon. I foresee any more stories in this series.
September 10, 2019
This is an extremely dark book and isn't for the faint hearted it also isn't a fast read like a lot of books are these day By the time you have finished it you will have felt like you have fallen through the gates of hell
Is cold blooded killing ever justified that is the question you will ask yourself as you read this book and I have to tell you to me this killer is a hero he is taking out the scum of the earth and when all legal channels are either paid off or powerless he is the one you would want on your side. Killian Lebon is an ex-Navy SEAL Senior Chief who was badly injured in a mission where he was trying to save girls sold as sex slaves by Isis and when he finally recovers from his injuries that becomes his mission in life This book is not for the squeamish there is plenty of torture and fairly graphic scenes but if that doesn't worry then I am sure you will love this story
Is cold blooded killing ever justified that is the question you will ask yourself as you read this book and I have to tell you to me this killer is a hero he is taking out the scum of the earth and when all legal channels are either paid off or powerless he is the one you would want on your side. Killian Lebon is an ex-Navy SEAL Senior Chief who was badly injured in a mission where he was trying to save girls sold as sex slaves by Isis and when he finally recovers from his injuries that becomes his mission in life This book is not for the squeamish there is plenty of torture and fairly graphic scenes but if that doesn't worry then I am sure you will love this story
December 29, 2019
This was a solid 3.5 stars raised to a 4. It is the story of Killian Lebon, a former career SEAL who was medically retired for life threatening injuries that occurred when he was trying to rescue a young girl who was a victim of trafficking. He returns to Baltimore where he becomes involved with local gangsters (pimps, traffickers and procurers). The story covers a number of back stories, some of which are more than a little violent and the language with which they are written matches the crudity and violence. It is not, in my opinion, an easy book to read, but I am afraid it is closer to reality than most. Thanks to the author and publisher for an ARC for an honest review.
December 5, 2019
I was gripped right from the beginning!!
This just may be the best thriller I’ve read this year. Killian is such a dynamic character. There are things he does that you won’t like, but you won’t hate him for doing them. The story is fast paced and the author has a fantastic style of writing that will grab you and not let go! I highly recommend this book!
I received a free copy of this story from BookSirens and am leaving a voluntary honest review.
This just may be the best thriller I’ve read this year. Killian is such a dynamic character. There are things he does that you won’t like, but you won’t hate him for doing them. The story is fast paced and the author has a fantastic style of writing that will grab you and not let go! I highly recommend this book!
I received a free copy of this story from BookSirens and am leaving a voluntary honest review.
September 26, 2019
Content Warnings : Violence, torture, gore. A victim of sexual assault goes into heavy detail of her experiences on one scene late into the book. Coercion and rape, drug use.
Note : I received a copy of this book for the purpose of review. Also of note, this title is part of Kindle Unlimited if you use that service.
Remember how Robin Hood would steal from the rich and give to the poor? The main character of this book, Killian, is kind of like a millenial version of that. He kills the seediest of the rich to avenge the most exploited of the poor, which is probably far more relevant to the present day. He’s like a modern day Robin Hood-meets-Dexter.
This book is about an array of criminals. First of note are the ones Killian targets. Most of them have lives of grandiose opulence and maintain an involved sex trafficking network. Killian stalks and unleashes violent and righteous anger upon them. His kills are quite gorily described and ritualistic in nature. He has two notable goals. 1, To hopefully free the captives they’re keeping and 2, To quiet his own inner demons that have been haunting him since a traumatic event. That event took place while he served abroad as a Navy SEAL. A bunch of enslaved little girls were slaughtered. In a big way Killian’s obsession with justice has been influenced by that tragedy, and he’s been avenging them ever since. The fragility of Killian’s psyche combined with his tremendous physical abilities make for an interesting contrast.
Overall, I enjoyed the storyline and the cinematic feeling to the sequencing of events. If you’re one who visualizes your reads with skill, this one feels like a lengthy tv drama. There was massive build up and intrigue involving that aforementioned network of villains. We see into their world and thought processes in often meticulous detail. At times, the amount of effort put toward the villainous perspective seemed a bit much. I usually like that sort of thing for the nuance it brings, but these guys are often nauseating to read about. One of them in particular, Savage, is given enough time and space that he could almost be considered a main/major character in earlier parts. All that happens is relevant to the plot though, and contributes to the moral quandary of Killian being technically horrifying and depraved but working toward a cause that can be justified.
To make note of some other side characters- aside from the parade of villains we have two very sympathetic figures, R.J. and Toni.
R.J. is Killian’s childhood friend. She is super easy to like, grounded and relatable but with physical and emotional strength that makes her one of the healthiest voices in the book. Then there is Toni- one of the victims of the story who goes through a lot of trauma. Without revealing too much I’ll just say she’s searching for her sister and runs into some bad luck while doing so. Now as for the sister, Ruby, I didn’t like her characterization but delving too deep into it can get spoiler-ish so lets just leave it at that.
I do think the book could have benefitted from having a few more worthwhile side characters, maybe a few of prominence that are similar to Killian or have similar goals. One thing I noticed that is amusing and surprising for a book that exudes the sort of masculine energy that this one does, all of the male characters are just horrible and face-punch worthy except for Killian. I can’t think of a single named male character that stood out as decent or likable aside from him.
A spoiler-free note about the ending- it was good, and had an unexpected turn at the end that I thought was fitting and easy to appreciate for its uniqueness.
The writing style goes for detail and description in ways that feel authentic. A drawback worth noting is that some of the dialogue felt silly- like catchy one liners in a movie or tv show- and clashed with the very dark themes. Overall, I recommend checking this book out if the premise intrigues you. It remains consistent throughout, no major dips in quality. If you like the beginning you’ll probably like the ending.
Why You Should Try It – Great if you’re looking for gritty adult fiction with some action, suspense, and intrigue that has a sort of cinematic feel to its proceedings. I really liked the mentioning of current events, while it will date this book in time, it adds a relevancy when reading it now in 2019. There are some fantastically tense moments, especially toward the middle. Killian is an interesting protagonist. This book is long yet remains consistent in quality throughout.
Why You Might Not Like It – Note the content warnings mentioned at the beginning of this review, as they may be troubling for some. Some aspects of Savage and Ruby didn’t hit the right note for me. Some dialogue can be a mixed bag. I love seeing villains given time and space to flesh out their motives, but it can get a bit much here.
Note : I received a copy of this book for the purpose of review. Also of note, this title is part of Kindle Unlimited if you use that service.
Remember how Robin Hood would steal from the rich and give to the poor? The main character of this book, Killian, is kind of like a millenial version of that. He kills the seediest of the rich to avenge the most exploited of the poor, which is probably far more relevant to the present day. He’s like a modern day Robin Hood-meets-Dexter.
This book is about an array of criminals. First of note are the ones Killian targets. Most of them have lives of grandiose opulence and maintain an involved sex trafficking network. Killian stalks and unleashes violent and righteous anger upon them. His kills are quite gorily described and ritualistic in nature. He has two notable goals. 1, To hopefully free the captives they’re keeping and 2, To quiet his own inner demons that have been haunting him since a traumatic event. That event took place while he served abroad as a Navy SEAL. A bunch of enslaved little girls were slaughtered. In a big way Killian’s obsession with justice has been influenced by that tragedy, and he’s been avenging them ever since. The fragility of Killian’s psyche combined with his tremendous physical abilities make for an interesting contrast.
Overall, I enjoyed the storyline and the cinematic feeling to the sequencing of events. If you’re one who visualizes your reads with skill, this one feels like a lengthy tv drama. There was massive build up and intrigue involving that aforementioned network of villains. We see into their world and thought processes in often meticulous detail. At times, the amount of effort put toward the villainous perspective seemed a bit much. I usually like that sort of thing for the nuance it brings, but these guys are often nauseating to read about. One of them in particular, Savage, is given enough time and space that he could almost be considered a main/major character in earlier parts. All that happens is relevant to the plot though, and contributes to the moral quandary of Killian being technically horrifying and depraved but working toward a cause that can be justified.
To make note of some other side characters- aside from the parade of villains we have two very sympathetic figures, R.J. and Toni.
R.J. is Killian’s childhood friend. She is super easy to like, grounded and relatable but with physical and emotional strength that makes her one of the healthiest voices in the book. Then there is Toni- one of the victims of the story who goes through a lot of trauma. Without revealing too much I’ll just say she’s searching for her sister and runs into some bad luck while doing so. Now as for the sister, Ruby, I didn’t like her characterization but delving too deep into it can get spoiler-ish so lets just leave it at that.
I do think the book could have benefitted from having a few more worthwhile side characters, maybe a few of prominence that are similar to Killian or have similar goals. One thing I noticed that is amusing and surprising for a book that exudes the sort of masculine energy that this one does, all of the male characters are just horrible and face-punch worthy except for Killian. I can’t think of a single named male character that stood out as decent or likable aside from him.
A spoiler-free note about the ending- it was good, and had an unexpected turn at the end that I thought was fitting and easy to appreciate for its uniqueness.
The writing style goes for detail and description in ways that feel authentic. A drawback worth noting is that some of the dialogue felt silly- like catchy one liners in a movie or tv show- and clashed with the very dark themes. Overall, I recommend checking this book out if the premise intrigues you. It remains consistent throughout, no major dips in quality. If you like the beginning you’ll probably like the ending.
Why You Should Try It – Great if you’re looking for gritty adult fiction with some action, suspense, and intrigue that has a sort of cinematic feel to its proceedings. I really liked the mentioning of current events, while it will date this book in time, it adds a relevancy when reading it now in 2019. There are some fantastically tense moments, especially toward the middle. Killian is an interesting protagonist. This book is long yet remains consistent in quality throughout.
Why You Might Not Like It – Note the content warnings mentioned at the beginning of this review, as they may be troubling for some. Some aspects of Savage and Ruby didn’t hit the right note for me. Some dialogue can be a mixed bag. I love seeing villains given time and space to flesh out their motives, but it can get a bit much here.
September 11, 2019
If you are after quantity of words and not quality of story, this is a book for you. Filled with long and unnecessary rants, as well as lots of factual errors, this is not a book for me.
December 2, 2019
This book is really wonderful.
December 2, 2019
This book is unquestionably fabulous.
January 15, 2020
Very exciting and action packed story.
I loved the book. The good guys were likable and the bad people were really bad. Yet it was so real.
I loved the book. The good guys were likable and the bad people were really bad. Yet it was so real.
August 16, 2019
An enthralling, gripping tale of epic proportions taking the reader on a ride full of twists, turns and action...
Kurt Brindley has constructed an intricate story that immediately immerses readers into the brutal world of organised crime, drug and sex trafficking and a gangster underworld all of which is centered around main character Killian Lebon. This warrior and former navy seal embarks on a journey in search of answers and revenge while also dealing with a huge level of trauma. He's a character that for all of his flaws and even dark moments you cannot help but admire and get behind.
The story unfolds gradually via a gripping and very readable style with the emphasis on Brindley's descriptive full sentences (proper sentences, how I have longed for thee...) with a series of stories and characters that all eventually find themselves linked later on. There are a wealth of three dimensional realistic characters with many who have their own flaws much like Killian such as 'RJ' with her own traumatic history or 'Toni' who is trying to do right even though her surroundings are wrong.
As a reader you definitely get value for money as The Good Kill is long read but it needs to be for the type of story it is and takes some time to get through although not once did I feel as if the story dragged and for a read of this caliber that is indeed an incredible feat.
It's modern Jason Bourne meets Taken but it feels fresher with a grittier story that is brutal, dark and sometimes violent and always entertaining. There's revenge and redemption as well as a series of revelations that appear in many different pinnacle moments during the story which is split into 4 parts all of which culminate dramatically.
The Good Kill represents independently published books in the finest possible way.
Kurt Brindley has constructed an intricate story that immediately immerses readers into the brutal world of organised crime, drug and sex trafficking and a gangster underworld all of which is centered around main character Killian Lebon. This warrior and former navy seal embarks on a journey in search of answers and revenge while also dealing with a huge level of trauma. He's a character that for all of his flaws and even dark moments you cannot help but admire and get behind.
The story unfolds gradually via a gripping and very readable style with the emphasis on Brindley's descriptive full sentences (proper sentences, how I have longed for thee...) with a series of stories and characters that all eventually find themselves linked later on. There are a wealth of three dimensional realistic characters with many who have their own flaws much like Killian such as 'RJ' with her own traumatic history or 'Toni' who is trying to do right even though her surroundings are wrong.
As a reader you definitely get value for money as The Good Kill is long read but it needs to be for the type of story it is and takes some time to get through although not once did I feel as if the story dragged and for a read of this caliber that is indeed an incredible feat.
It's modern Jason Bourne meets Taken but it feels fresher with a grittier story that is brutal, dark and sometimes violent and always entertaining. There's revenge and redemption as well as a series of revelations that appear in many different pinnacle moments during the story which is split into 4 parts all of which culminate dramatically.
The Good Kill represents independently published books in the finest possible way.
September 11, 2019
~A copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review~
Be prepared because this grabs you from the first page and takes you on a ride.
The violence in the book, because it is there, is very well placed and at no point did I ever feel like it was for shock or even as a plot filler. It was tastefully done and not overwhelming. That is very hard to find in books that have a lot of action.
Each character is very developed and had so much room to grow. It wasn't thrown in your face all at once or was it rushed. The time was taken to make sure the reader got a good grasp on their personalities. They were three dimensional and continued to grow as the story went on without it being very upfront. Does that make sense?
The subject matter is something that is not really tackled because it is seen as taboo and I fully commend Brindley for handling this with tack.
I can easily see this as a movie. As I was reading, I could see this playing out in my mind at the same time.
Be prepared because this grabs you from the first page and takes you on a ride.
The violence in the book, because it is there, is very well placed and at no point did I ever feel like it was for shock or even as a plot filler. It was tastefully done and not overwhelming. That is very hard to find in books that have a lot of action.
Each character is very developed and had so much room to grow. It wasn't thrown in your face all at once or was it rushed. The time was taken to make sure the reader got a good grasp on their personalities. They were three dimensional and continued to grow as the story went on without it being very upfront. Does that make sense?
The subject matter is something that is not really tackled because it is seen as taboo and I fully commend Brindley for handling this with tack.
I can easily see this as a movie. As I was reading, I could see this playing out in my mind at the same time.
July 30, 2020
This is my first time reading anything by this author and I was impressed with this book. The author deals with a subject that could be possible triggers for some readers. I really enjoyed the book; I like the author’s writing style and the fact that he didn’t shy away from writing the more difficult scenes. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 19, 2019
The good kill is a thriller story written about Killian Lebon. He is an ex-Navy SEAL Senior Chief who happens to have an accident in one of his missions. With an explosion at the scene, death threatening injuries and a failed mission, he retires and begins to deal with the trauma and after effects of the endeavor.
His path crosses a woman who he had previously loved, only to realize that she had been stolen, and was to be delivered by a sex trafficking organization. Killian makes his mission in life to stop the person responsible and to end the entire organization altogether.
The story began with explaining a good deal about Killian’s journey and hardship. The author builds the lead character in a very realistic yet strong way. His personality is easily understood and that made the story more relevant. The pace of the book heightens when he falls in a position where he decides to eliminate the people involved in the sex trafficking business.
I found the literature to be detailed and noticed care given with the violent scenes in such a way that it made the book suitable for a general audience. I would, therefore, recommend this story to people who like to read thriller stories.
His path crosses a woman who he had previously loved, only to realize that she had been stolen, and was to be delivered by a sex trafficking organization. Killian makes his mission in life to stop the person responsible and to end the entire organization altogether.
The story began with explaining a good deal about Killian’s journey and hardship. The author builds the lead character in a very realistic yet strong way. His personality is easily understood and that made the story more relevant. The pace of the book heightens when he falls in a position where he decides to eliminate the people involved in the sex trafficking business.
I found the literature to be detailed and noticed care given with the violent scenes in such a way that it made the book suitable for a general audience. I would, therefore, recommend this story to people who like to read thriller stories.
October 20, 2019
From the moment I read what this book was about I had a feeling that it would be something I would enjoy reading. A big thank you to Kurt for getting in touch and asking me if I would like to review it. If it wasn’t for him getting in touch I would have probably missed out on this book.
This book will have you gripped from start to end, it’s full of exciting twists and turns, as well as loads of action. Right from the very beginning we’re introduced to the brutal world of gangsters, organised crime, drugs and sex trafficking.
This was so well written. Even though it’s very graphic with some horrific scenes descriptions, Kurt has crafted this book so well that it all just fitted into place smoothly without leaving readers shocked and you knew exactly what was about to happen.
I personally found the characters to be really interesting. They developed and grew as the book went on and I really loved discovering new things about them as the book progressed. The characters felt very realistic and I really wanted to keep following their journey.
This was a fab read and I really can’t wait to see what else Kurt Brindley has to offer next. In my opinion this is definitely a must read for anyone who likes reading action packed books. However, if you’re not into blood and violence this book may not be for you.
Trigger Warnings: Sexual Assault, PTSD, Incest, Violence, Strong Language.
This book will have you gripped from start to end, it’s full of exciting twists and turns, as well as loads of action. Right from the very beginning we’re introduced to the brutal world of gangsters, organised crime, drugs and sex trafficking.
This was so well written. Even though it’s very graphic with some horrific scenes descriptions, Kurt has crafted this book so well that it all just fitted into place smoothly without leaving readers shocked and you knew exactly what was about to happen.
I personally found the characters to be really interesting. They developed and grew as the book went on and I really loved discovering new things about them as the book progressed. The characters felt very realistic and I really wanted to keep following their journey.
This was a fab read and I really can’t wait to see what else Kurt Brindley has to offer next. In my opinion this is definitely a must read for anyone who likes reading action packed books. However, if you’re not into blood and violence this book may not be for you.
Trigger Warnings: Sexual Assault, PTSD, Incest, Violence, Strong Language.
December 16, 2019
Action? Check. Lone wolf hero with a tragic flaw? Check. Strong women? Check.
This action-packed book grabs you by the throat from the beginning. It does it firmly, but not too preachily, to keep you captive audience, as Brindley gives you a peek into the grimy underbelly of too much money, not enough morals, the sex trade, and espionage. The protagonist, Killian Lebon, is a broken veteran who engages in a very creative form of vigilance. You know it’s wrong, but you can’t help but cheer him on, offer to buy his lunch for his service if you see him in a diner: keeping society safe from people who can’t defend themselves.
My only criticism is that Brindley does paint some of the characters with a broad brush. You have the stereotypical whorish, foul-mouthed black woman (Ruby) whose only power over men is what she has under her skirt. But she is balanced out by her twin sister’s resolve to yank her out of that fool’s gold life.
Riveting and intriguing, The Good Kill is a book that leaves you wondering when the movie is coming out.
This action-packed book grabs you by the throat from the beginning. It does it firmly, but not too preachily, to keep you captive audience, as Brindley gives you a peek into the grimy underbelly of too much money, not enough morals, the sex trade, and espionage. The protagonist, Killian Lebon, is a broken veteran who engages in a very creative form of vigilance. You know it’s wrong, but you can’t help but cheer him on, offer to buy his lunch for his service if you see him in a diner: keeping society safe from people who can’t defend themselves.
My only criticism is that Brindley does paint some of the characters with a broad brush. You have the stereotypical whorish, foul-mouthed black woman (Ruby) whose only power over men is what she has under her skirt. But she is balanced out by her twin sister’s resolve to yank her out of that fool’s gold life.
Riveting and intriguing, The Good Kill is a book that leaves you wondering when the movie is coming out.
November 24, 2019
This novel was dark, twisted, suspenseful, witty, and intense to name a few characteristics. I enjoyed this novel. The characters were well developed. That being said my reason for the 4 star rating is tied entirely to the Henderson character. It seemed his monologues while meant to irritate McKnight got too lengthy and monotonous for me. I extremely relieved when they stopped. To say this is a page turner puts is mildly. Once I got the sync of the time line and different story lines involved I couldn't put this book down. The action is well paced and adrenaline producing in many places. Other times it is just dark and creates wonderful anticipation for the reader. I will definitely put Kurt Brindley's name on my author watch list for future reading. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 11, 2019
Started out strong then just dissolved into to gibberish
Started out interesting then.....this man is an insult to any seal or special forces solder alive
Poor tactical mistake after mistake...the in between story line is the vivid imagination of any desk jockey who invisions himself as this super hero....one would have to put aside the fantasy that any human with the injuries involved would let this person do the violent physical things he did..without dropping dead.is a stretch to the imagination ..that coupled with the repetitive self doubt decisions...I'm surprised he could decide what clothes to put on each morning....give it a miss and read all of the mitch Rapp novels...
Started out interesting then.....this man is an insult to any seal or special forces solder alive
Poor tactical mistake after mistake...the in between story line is the vivid imagination of any desk jockey who invisions himself as this super hero....one would have to put aside the fantasy that any human with the injuries involved would let this person do the violent physical things he did..without dropping dead.is a stretch to the imagination ..that coupled with the repetitive self doubt decisions...I'm surprised he could decide what clothes to put on each morning....give it a miss and read all of the mitch Rapp novels...
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